National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Living withHIV?AIDS in Uganda (NGEN+)

1.0 What is NGEN+?

This is a Network of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. It was established in 1996 with an overall goal of bringing together People Living with HIV/AIDS to take part in HIV prevention and AIDS care efforts.

2.0 The goal of NGEN+

• Bringing together People Living with HIV/AIDS and empowering them to participate in HIV prevention and AIDS care activities in the country.
• Promotion of GIPA

3.0 Background of NGEN+

For many years, HIV had been looked at as a disease for the wrecked of the earth. People with HIV were shunned, discriminated and stigmatised every day of their life.

Apart from the culture, this condition was precipitated by religious moralism, which created bad attitude and made sex a dirty thing. Many people who found themselves HIV infected were living in a world where they did not belong!. There was no body they could talk to and that made HIV/AIDS one of the most debilitating disease the world has ever had. There was lack of focus and hope which made people even more dangerous to the community. They could easily spread the virus out of frustration.

It was therefore found necessary to build a Network of people living with HIV in order for them to find people they could relate with and share the problem. Networking among People Living with HIV/AIDS has turned out to be a very important forum and it is already yielding fruits in terms of people accepting their HIV/AIDS status and acting as a real face for HIV/AIDS and as agents of positive change in the fight. This has given Ugandans more understanding of the problem. They now know that HIV/AIDS is real, it does not discriminate, every one is vulnerable to it, it is a danger to both the old and the young, and the best way to fight is to get everybody change their behaviour, and attitude towards people infected with the disease.

Therefore, bringing together all people with HIV/AIDS in Uganda will go along way to stem the rapid spread of HIV especially in the rural community. For the Network to succeed, it needs support nationally and internationally and in all forms.

4.0 Objectives of NGEN+

4.1 Mobilise PHA in Uganda into local level Networks so as to create a common voice to advocate and lobby for an improved quality of life e.g in care given by Non-Governmental Service Organisations and Government Institutions.

4.2 Empower positive persons to share experiences, skills and power in order to promote positive living among themselves and prevention practices. This is intended to expand survival options.

Promote self esteem and confidence and create a sense of belonging among positive persons in Uganda.

4.4 Work with Government Departments and other Non-Government Departments involved in HIV prevention and AIDS care, and the private sector.

5.0 How NGEN+ operates

NGEN+ works through a National task Force comprising of ten volunteers. The Task Force is headed by a National Coordinator assisted by a Project Manager and a Secretary.

The District Networks are headed by a District Coordinator assisted by a Secretary, and a District Core Group with officers as the specific District Members may wish.

The National task Force and the District Core Group are not static. The members are free to leave when they need and others are invited depending on the need available and their unique skills.

6.0 Activities and Achievements.

6.1 Establishing Networks of people living with HIV/AIDS

To-date March 2003, NGEN+ has been able to mobilise PHA in twenty one (22) Districts. The Districts include Kampala, Mukono, Masaka, Mubende, Luweero, Mpigi-Buwama, Soroti, Kumi, Tororo, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Lira, Kalangala, Rukungiri,
Pallisa, Apac, UPDF, Gulu, Bushenyi, Kasese and Kanungu.

Mobilising PHA involves training them on issues like positive living, communication skills, networking, lobbying and advocacy, information on HIV transmission and prevention, and management of the disease.

Prevention campaigns

NGEN+ is involved in prevention campaigns in the Uganda Armed Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Police, and the Uganda Prison Services. By end of June, 1999 ninety two (92) establishments all over the country, of all the forces mentioned above had been reached with prevention campaigns and message of hope for those who are infected.

Lobbying and advocacy

Lobbying and advocacy for an improved quality of life continues to be at the forefront. NGEN+ is engaged in a dialogue with the Ministry of Health over increased accessibility and subsidy of the High Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART), and treatment for the most common opportunistic infections.